Bowden was convicted Oct. 10 of beating his 71-year-old mother — Julie Richardson — to death with a shovel. The jury recommended and Pearson imposed the life sentence the next day.

The new hearing comes after Prosecutor David Gibbons notified Pearson and defense attorneys that the bailiff said in front of jurors that Bowden "acted up" at the jail and was wearing a "shock belt" to control him in court.